Top 10 Oldest Universities in the World: Ancient Colleges List of Smallest Ranked Colleges and Universities Top 10 Oldest Universities in the World: Ancient Colleges Unfortunately, the U.S. will never boast a medieval university, as this country’s origins, established in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, were formed when the oldest university in the world already was about nine centuries old. If you’re interested, we do have a list of the oldest universities in the U.S. , by accreditation year. The following list of ten oldest universities in the world shows, through their brief histories, a trend: The university as an autonomous self-governing institution first was developed as religious institutions (madrasahs) that originated in the medieval Islamic world. But, Europe did not fall far behind these Islamic developments, as Italy founded its first university approximately two centuries after the first university developed in Morocco. The last university on this list, the University of Padua in Italy, was founded in 1222 — 270 years before Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue in 1492. This list is compiled of extant universities, although a few of them closed for brief periods from the effects of war or local disputes.

On the whole, the European universities on this list have expanded their campuses and enjoy high rankings in the world today. The list below is compiled in order of the university’s founding. University of Al-Karaouine : Located in Fes, Morocco, this university originally was a mosque founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman. It developed into one of the leading universities for natural sciences. It wasn’t until 1957 that the university added mathematics, physics, chemistry and foreign languages. This university is considered the oldest continuously-operating degree-granting university in the world by the Guiness Book of World Records . Al-Azhar University : This university, located in Egypt, is the world’s second oldest surviving degree-granting institute. Founded in 970-972, this university serves as a center for Arabic literature and Sunni Islamic learning. Al-Azhar university concentrates upon a religious syllabus, which pays special attention to the Quranic sciences and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad on the one hand, while also teaching all modern fields of science.

Nizamiyya : This series of universities was established by Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk in the eleventh century in what is now present-day Iran. The most celebrated of all the Nizamiyya schools is Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad, established in 1065 in Dhu’l Qa’da and that remains operational in Isfahan. But, this was just one of many Nizamiyyah schools — others were located in Nishapur, Amul, Mosul, Herat, Damascus, and Basra. The Nizamiyya schools served as a model for future universities in the region, and al-Mulk often is seen as responsible for a new era of brilliance which caused his schools to eclipse all other contemporary learning institutions. University of Bologna : This university was the first higher-learning institute established in the Western world in 1088. The term, “university,” was coined at its creation. Located in Bologna, Italy, this university led the Western world in educational innovations until the period between the two World Wars.

At that time, leaders called upon the university to forge relationships with institutions in more advanced countries to modernize and re-invigorate its educational philosophies. This university met the call and, today, is considered a leader in the European university system. University of Paris : This university’s exact founding is unclear; however, teaching from this university existed since 1096. The university was reorganized as 13 autonomous universities in 1970. Often referred to as the Sorbonne after the College de Sorbonne (founded about 1257), this institute grew up in the latter part of the twelfth century around Notre Dame Cathedral as a corporation centered on the fields of arts, medicine, law and theology. In 1968 the cultural revolution commonly known as “the French May” resulted in the closing of the university for only the third time in history. The first occasion was in 1229, and the second was due to the invasion by the German army of 1940. University of Oxford : Like the University of Paris, the exact date of this university’s founding is unclear.

The formal founding date, however, is 1096 — although teaching from the Oxford location is considerably older than this date. This institute developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. The school has temporarily closed twice, once in 1209 for the town execution of two scholars and in 1355 for the St. Scholastica riot. Currently, this oldest English-speaking university contains 38 colleges, each with its own internal structure and activities. University of Montpelier : Located in Montpelier, France, this university also is considerably older than its founding date of 1150. A papal bull issued by Pope Nicholas IV in 1289 combined all long-existing schools into one main university. This university was suppressed during the 1793 French Revolution, but the faculties of science and letters were re-established in 1810, law in 1880. This university, in the spirit of modernism, was “re-founded” in 1969. The modern focus is on science and technology.

University of Cambridge : Known as the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, this university was formed by scholars who left the University of Oxford over a dispute in 1209. The two schools have, therefore, a long history of rivalry between them. Currently, Cambridge is ranked as one of the world’s top five universities and is a premier leading university in Europe. As of 2009, the alumni from this university account for eighty-five Nobel Laureates. Cambridge now consists of 31 colleges comprised of over 150 departments, faculties, schools and other institutions. University of Salamanca : Located in Salamanca, Spain, this school was established in 1218 and obtained the title of “university” by Alexander IV’s papal bull in 1225. The school originally was established by Leonese King Alfonso IX to allow the Leonese people to study at home rather than leave to study in Castile. Its historical high note was when Columbus consulted this institute’s scholars in seeking a western route to the Indies. Today, Salamanca remains the university of choice for Spanish students who want to focus on humanities and language studies.

University of Padua : This is the second oldest university in Italy, falling behind the University of Bologna. This university was founded in 1222 when a group of students and professors left the University of Bologna in search for more academic freedom. Its primary claim to fame is its anatomical theater, established in 1595, which drew artists and scientists studying the human body during public dissections. The gardens and museums were begun in 1545, and remain as a testament to the focuses on botany and history. As of 2003, this university had approximately 65,000 students. December 6, 2009 Top 10 Oldest Universities Around the World Top 10 Oldest Universities Around the World by Ejaz Khan The word university is derived from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium, roughly meaning “community of teachers and scholars”. The term was coined by the Italian University of Bologna, which, with a traditional founding date of 1088, is considered the first university. The following list of ten oldest universities in the world shows, through their brief histories and trend.

Here is a list of the Top 10 oldest universities in the world which are in continuous operation. 10. University of Valladolid (Valladolid, Spain, Founded in 1241) University of Valladolid, Salamanca, Spain and Canary Islands The University of Valladolid is a public university in the city of Valladolid, province of Valladolid, in the autonomous region of Castile-Leon, Spain. The university currently has 31,780 undergraduate students and more than 2,000 teachers. At 10th position among the oldest universities in the world, The University of Valladolid (UVa) is a Spanish public university founded in 1241 as removal of studies at the University of Palencia, founded by Alfonso VIII of Castile, between 1208 and 1212. He is currently responsible for teaching higher education in seven campuses distributed through four cities of Castile and Leon: Valladolid, Palencia, Soria and Segovia.

One hypothesis is that its foundation is the result of the transfer of Palencia General Survey between 1208 and 1241 by Alfonso VIII, king of Castile, and Bishop Tello Téllez de Meneses. 9. University of Siena (Siena, Italy, Founded in 1240) University of Siena in Arezzo, Italy The University of Siena in Siena, Tuscany is one of the oldest universities and first publicly funded universities in Italy. Originally called Studium Senese, the University of Siena was founded in 1240. The University had around 20,000 students in 2006 nearly half of Siena’s total population of around 54,000. Today, the University of Siena is best known for its Schools of Law and Medicine. Originally called Studium Senese, was founded by Commune of Siena in 1240. In 1321, the studium was able to attract a larger number or pupils due to a mass exodus from the prestigious neighbouring University of Bologna.

Closed temporarily in 1808–1815 when Napoleonic forces occupied Tuscany. On November 7, 1990 the university celebrated its 750th anniversary. 8. University of Toulouse (Toulouse, France, Founded in 1229) Université Toulouse 1 Capitole – The Oldest Universities The Université de Toulouse is a consortium of French universities, grandes écoles and other institutions of higher education and research, named after one of the earliest universities established in Europe in 1229, and including the successor universities to that earlier university. This article describes the institutions that have been called the “Université de Toulouse”. The formation of the University of Toulouse was imposed on Count Raymond VII as a part of the Treaty of Paris in 1229 ending the crusade against the Albigensians. As he was suspected of sympathizing with the heretics, Raymond VII had to finance the teaching of theology. Bishop Foulques de Toulouse was among the founders of the University. Among its first lecturers were: Jean de Garlande, Roland of Cremona. Other faculties (law, medicine) were added later.

Initially, the University was located in the center of the city, together with the ancestors of student residences, the colleges. 7. University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy, Founded in 1224) The University of Naples Federico II is maybe one of the the oldest universities Founded by Frederick II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The University of Naples Federico II is a university located in Naples, Italy. It was founded in 1224 and is organized into 13 faculties. It is the world’s oldest state university and one of the oldest academic institutions in continuous operation. The university is named after its founder Frederick II. The University of Naples Federico II was founded by emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Frederick II on 5 June 1224. It is the most ancient state-supported institution of higher education and research in the world. One of the most famous students of this university was Roman Catholic theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas. 6. University of Padua (Padua, Italy, Founded in 1222) University of Padua. Department of Structural and Transportation Engineering Founded by scholars and professors after leaving Bologna.

The University of Padua (Italian Università degli Studi di Padova, UNIPD) is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second oldest in Italy. As of 2010 the university had approximately 65,000 students. The university is conventionally said to have been founded in 1222 (which corresponds to the first time when the University is cited in a historical document as pre-existing, therefore it is quite certainly older) when a large group of students and professors left the University of Bologna in search of more academic freedom (‘Libertas scholastica’). The first subjects to be taught were law and theology. The curriculum expanded rapidly, and by 1399 the institution had divided in two: a Universitas Iuristarum for civil law and Canon law, and a Universitas Artistarum which taught astronomy, dialectic, philosophy, grammar, medicine, and rhetoric.

There was also a Universitas Theologorum, established in 1373 by Urban V. 5. University of Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain, Founded in 1218) The University of Salamanca, Spanish higher education institution The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid, in the autonomous community of Castilla and León. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European university in continuous operations. It was the first European institution to receive the formal title of “University” as such; it was granted by King Alfonso X in 1254 and recognized by Pope Alexander IV in 1255. It is the oldest university in operation in Spain.

Although there are records of the University granting degrees many years before (James Trager’s People’s Chronology sets its foundation date in 1134), it only received the Royal chart of foundation as “Estudio General” in 1218, making it possibly the fourth or even the third oldest European university in continuous operations. However, it was the first European university to receive the title of “University” as such, granted by king of Castile and León Alfonso X and the Pope in 1254. Having been excluded from the University in 1852 by the Spanish government, the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law became the Pontifical University of Salamanca in 1940. 4. University of Cambridge (Cambridge, England, Founded in 1209) The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s oldestuniversities Founded by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute caused by the execution of two scholars in 1209, and royal charter was granted in 1231. The university takes 1209 as its official anniversary. The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

It is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world (after the University of Oxford), and the seventh-oldest in the world. In post-nominals the university’s name is abbreviated as Cantab, a shortened form of Cantabrigiensis (an adjective derived from Cantabrigia, the Latinised form of Cambridge). The university grew out of an association of Cambridge scholars that was formed in 1209, early records suggest, by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk. The two “ancient universities” have many common features and are often jointly referred to as Oxbridge. In addition to cultural and practical associations as a historic part of British society, they have a long history of rivalry with each other. 3. University of Oxford (Oxford, England, Founded in 1167) Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

“Claimed to be the oldest university in the world, there is no clear date of foundation of Oxford University, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris.” Teaching suspended in 1209 (due to town execution of two scholars) and 1355 (due to the St. Scholastica riot), but was continuous during the English Civil War (1642–1651) – the University was Royalist. All Souls College and University College have repeatedly claimed that they own documents proving that teaching in Oxford started in the year 825, but these documents have never seen the public light (allegedly, John Speed dated his famous 1605 Oxford maps based on these documents). However, it was not until 1254 that Pope Innocent IV granted to Oxford the University charter by papal bull (“Querentes in agro”). 2. University of Paris (Paris, France, Founded in 1150) The Old Sorbonne on fire in 1670.

It was founded in the mid-12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1170 (or, possibly, as early as 1150). After many changes, including a century of suspension (1793–1896), it ceased to exist as such in 1970 and 13 autonomous universities (University of Paris I–XIII) were created from it. The university is often referred to as the Sorbonne or La Sorbonne after the collegiate institution (Collège de Sorbonne) founded about 1257 by Robert de Sorbon. In fact, the university as such was older and was never completely centered on the Sorbonne. Of the 13 current successor universities, the first 4 have a presence in the historical Sorbonne building, and three include “Sorbonne” in their names. 1. University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy, Founded in 1088) The College of Bologna, founded in 1088, may be the earliest academic institution from the Civilized world.

At top the Oldest Universities The first university in the sense of a higher-learning, degree-awarding institute, the word university having been coined at its foundation. At top of the list of ten oldest universities in the world which are in continuous operation. The Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna is a university located in Bologna, Italy founded in 1088. As of 2000 the University’s motto is Alma mater studiorum (Latin for “nourishing mother of studies”) The University has about 100,000 students in its 23 schools. It has branch centers in Imola, Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini and a branch center abroad in Buenos Aires. Moreover, it has a school of excellence named Collegio Superiore di Bologna. The date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088.

The university received a charter from Frederick I Barbarossa in 1158, but in the 19th century, a committee of historians led by Giosuè Carducci traced the founding of the University back to 1088, which would make it one of the oldest universities in the world. kaash………! our leaders take interest on this side??????????? jack 10 of the Oldest Universities in the World | Top Universities 10 of the Oldest Universities in the World 02:00PM Sep 16, 2016 This content can be saved to the "My Activity" tab in your user profile. 3,019 shares This content can be saved to the "My Activity" tab in your user profile. 3,019 shares Centers of higher education have been around for hundreds of years, and even millennia in some cases. But not all withstand the test of time. Over the centuries, many of the world’s oldest universities have disbanded, split into autonomous colleges or become modernized beyond all recognition.

The ancient institutions that have stuck around are significant not only for their historic legacies, but also for proving their ability to adapt to modern contexts and remain relevant in a globalized world in spite of intense competition. Many of the oldest universities in the world are also among the most prestigious and popular, offering a rich mixture of historic heritage and contemporary outlook. Here we cover some of the oldest universities in the world, all of which feature in one of the QS rankings . Most are located in Europe, due to the particularly impressive number of longstanding and still-operating universities in this region, but there’s also an African representative to consider. **Note – this is not intended to be a list of the 10 oldest universities in order of establishment; instead it highlights 10 of the oldest universities which also have a high international ranking.** 1. University of Bologna Location: Italy Established in: 1088 The ‘Nourishing Mother of the Studies’ according to its Latin motto, the University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and, having never been out of operation, holds the title of the oldest university in the world.

Until relatively modern times, the university only taught doctorate studies, but today it has a diverse range of programs at all levels. Located in Bologna, Italy, it has an enrollment of around 84,200 students, of which 30,000 are postgraduates. Famous alumni include three popes, numerous businessmen and several Italian politicians. The University of Bologna is ranked 208th in the QS World University Rankings® 2016-2017 . 2. University of Oxford Location: United Kingdom Established in: 1096-1167 With an alumni list that includes 27 UK Prime Ministers, 20 Archbishops of Canterbury, 12 saints, 27 Nobel laureates, 47 Nobel Prize winners and one Sir Stephen Hawking, the University of Oxford is as respected as it is old. While the university’s exact foundation date remains a little vague, evidence of teaching dates as far back as 1096, and some claim it was established even earlier.

Currently 6th in the world rankings, the University of Oxford is truly one of the highest-ranked and oldest universities in the world, catering to a student community of around 22,600 and operating the largest university press in the world. 3. University of Salamanca Location: Spain Established in: 1134 Another of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Salamanca was founded in 1134 and given the Royal Charter in 1218. Spain’s oldest institution, after the now defunct University of Palencia, the University of Salamanca is located to the west of Madrid. To add to its historic aura, it was the institution where Christopher Columbus made a case to obtain royal support for his Indies expedition in the late 15th century. The University of Salamanca is now ranked in the 651-700 range* of the QS World University Rankings and caters to over 30,000 students across nine campuses. 4.

University of Paris Location: France Established in: 1160-1250 Established between 1160 and 1250 in the French capital, the University of Paris, often known as ‘la Sorbonne’, is known to have been one of the first established universities in Europe. As history goes, the University of Paris was suspended from operating between 1793 and 1896, following the French Revolution. Today, the University of Paris is scattered throughout the city, having been divided into 13 autonomous institutions in 1970, all of which maintain the high reputation of the original university. Of these 13, the highest ranked are Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC, joint 141st in the world rankings), Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV. 221st in the world) and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (joint 228th). Discover more of the top universities in Paris here . 5.

University of Cambridge Location: UK Established in: 1209 Established in 1209 by a group of scholars leaving the University of Oxford due to political conflicts, the University of Cambridge today marginally out-ranks its elder, currently placed 4th in the world. Sharing many common traditions, Oxford and Cambridge maintain a healthy sense of rivalry, which comes to a head in the famous annual Boat Race event. Cambridge has nearly 19,000 students, of which 4,100 come from outside the EU. 6. University of Padua Location: Italy Established in: 1222 The University of Padua – Università di Padova or UNIPD – was founded in 1222 (although some evidence puts it before this date) and is one of a number of medieval universities in Italy still operating. Currently ranked joint 338th in the world rankings, the Università di Padova is notable for its revolutionary early research in astronomy, law, medicine and philosophy. It now hosts around 61,000 students in the city of Padua, the setting of William Shakespeare’s famous play The Taming of the Shrew.

In 1545, the Università di Padova established the Botanical Garden of Padova, now one of the oldest academic gardens in the world. It also runs nine museums. 7. University of Naples Federico II Location: Italy Established in: 1224 (1258) Founded in 1224 by Frederick II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the University of Naples - Federico II is located in Naples, Italy’s third-largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The University of Naples Federico II is placed 481-490 in the world rankings, teaching a wide range of programs to a student community of around 100,000. Among its most famous historic alumni it boasts philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas. 8. University of Siena Location: Italy Established in: 1240 Located in the small city of Siena in the Tuscany region, the University of Siena is another of the oldest universities in the world with a strong global standing, currently at 701+ in the world rankings.

With enrolment numbers upwards of 20,000, the University of Siena campus comprises almost half of the city’s entire population. The city center itself, also of historic importance, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited annually by over 160,000 tourists who come for the food, the art, the museums and the medieval heritage. 9. University of Coimbra Location: Portugal Established in: 1290 Although originally established in the Portuguese capital in 1290, the University of Coimbra (451-460 in the world rankings), was relocated a number of times by demanding kings, finally ending up in Coimbra, the country’s third-largest urban center and home to much Roman-era history. With a student community of almost 25,000, the University of Coimbra has been through many radical reforms, and for decades of the 18th century it was the only operating university in Portugal. In 2013, the University of Coimbra was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its historical buildings, open courtyard, cultural traditions and stunning city-wide views. 10.

Al-Azhar University Location: Egypt Established in: 970 AD Despite not gaining university status until 1961, Al-Azhar University was established as early as 970 AD in Cairo, Egypt. Originally a ‘madrasa’, teaching students from primary to tertiary level, Al-Azhar University was first known as a center of Islamic learning but has since developed a modern curriculum of secular subjects, ensuring its survival. Through its time, the school has seen much political instability, most notably in the 12th century when a new dynasty took power and destroyed over 100,000 texts. Today, Al-Azhar University is ranked 701+ in the world rankings, and 35th in the QS University Rankings: Arab Region 2016 . In addition to traditional studies, the school also offers programs in business, economics, science, medicine, engineering and agriculture. --- Did you know…?

The oldest university in Asia was founded in 1611 ( University of Santo Tomas , the Philippines), the oldest university in the US was established in 1636 ( Harvard University , Massachusetts), and the oldest university in Australia was established in 1850 ( University of Sydney , New South Wales). *For more information about ranking categories, and answers to other frequently asked questions, click here . This article was originally published in July 2015. It was updated in September 2016 to incorporate the latest rankings positions. College and University History, Medieval Universities, Origin, Schools, Europe, Timeline College and University History Medieval Universities And the Origin of the College History of Colleges and Universities, Europe in the Middle Ages Below are two chapters / articles (from different sources) providing background review information on the history in the middle ages of colleges and universities, origin of schools, and a timeline of the evolution of the medieval college and university system.

Excerpt from "Academical Dress in New Zealand", 2000, Chap 1: Mediæval Universities, by Noel Cox, LLM(Hons) MA PhD GradDipTertTchg FRHistS FBS, Barrister of the High Court of New Zealand, Professor of Law, and Discipline Chairman of Law, Faculty of Business, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand The earliest universities to develop were in Italy. These were at Salerno (1) in the course of the ninth century, and Bologna (2) in the eleventh century. Universities as we know them today started as scholastic guilds, and developed on an analogy with the tradesmen's guilds and the later guilds of aliens in foreign cities which sprang up in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in most of the great European cities. Centres of learning had grown up in a number of the leading cities of the West after the intellectual nadir of the Dark Ages, in many cases from the monastic and cathedral schools. Towards the end of the twelfth century a few of the greatest schools claimed, from the excellence of their teaching, to be of more than merely local importance.

These great schools began to be called studia generalia, or places to which scholars resorted from all parts of Europe (3). In a Bull of 1225, Emperor Frederick II purported to confer upon his new school at Naples the prestige which earlier studia had acquired by reputation and general consent, and this example was followed by Pope Gregory IX at Toulouse in 1229. Other studia generalia were subsequently founded by papal or imperial bulls, and in 1292 even the long-established universities of Paris and Bologna found it desirable to obtain similar bulls from Nicholas IV. It came to be accepted that without a licence from the Pope, Emperor or King, no studium generale possess the right of conferring degrees, licences to teach. A few schools such as Oxford however were too well established to be seriously questioned, and these were regarded as studia generalia ex consuetudine (4). In all, some twenty-three universities were founded in Europe prior to 1300 (5). The term universitas itself originally could mean any community or corporation, unless qualified by the use of such expressions as universitas magistrorum et scharium or similar.

The more ancient and customary term was studium and subsequently studium generale,the specific term universitas being confined to the scholastic guild within the studium. The universitas often meant simply the student body, usually called the nation, organised for the communal protection of the foreign student body, men who otherwise, being aliens, were at the mercy of local inn-keepers and tradesmen. The fusion of the universitates into a single universitas was a gradual process (6), but by the close of the mediæval period however these distinctions had been lost sight of, and the term universitas was used alone. What is now the University of Oxford apparently came into existence around 1115, with 60 to 100 students assembled round the Augustinian canons of the Priory of St Frideswide. The first reference to Oxford as a studium generale did not however occur until 1163. The notion that Oxford owed its origins to the arrival of scholars and teachers from the recently established schools at Paris, attracted by the proximity of the palace of the scholarly King Henry I, need not now be accepted (7).

The University of Cambridge was created c.1209, although at first its growth was relatively slow and it was only recognised as a studium generale by Bull of Pope John XXII in 1318. The structures of both universities were heavily influenced by the example of Merton College, Oxford, which was established in 1264 as a residence for secular clergy- those who lived a communal life but, unlike the regular clergy, were not monastic (8). The collegiate structure which was a significant feature of many early universities remained strong in the English universities (9), and both were only formally incorporated as distinct legal bodies separate from their colleges in 1571 (10). Both English universities, and those of northern France and Germany, were dominated by their teaching fraternities, after the model of Paris. Those in Italy, Spain, and southern France, following the lead of Bologna, were controlled to a much greater degree by their students, who tended to be older men than those commonly found in the northern universities (11). The combination of various features from each model was by no means uncommon however, and this was shown most clearly in the universities of France in the fifteenth century (12).

Universities established after the mediæval period combined features of the earlier establishments. In England, however, it was not until the nineteenth century that a new university was founded (13), though the Inns of Court and Chancery had some right to their claims to be "universities of the law" (14). Nineteenth century universities were often the product of provincial civic pride, and owed their existence to a growing desire for education, rather than the production of gentlemen. The Scottish tradition of universities was more influenced by the Continental model, and a greater emphasis on popular education than that found in England before the later nineteenth century. Despite the great influence of Oxford and Cambridge on intellectual life, the traditions of universities in New Zealand owes at least as much to the Scottish and provincial civic university model. Indeed the oldest university in this country was that of Otago, created by the Province of Otago, rather than the central Government. However, in 1870 Parliament passed legislation to create the University of New Zealand (15). This was to be an examining body with affiliated teaching colleges (16).

This institution acted as the federal parent body for New Zealand university colleges, including that of Otago, until they finally became independent universities in 1962 (17). Since the nineteenth century the structural changes that the universities have faced have been more a consequence of economic necessity and Government imposition, than scholarly reflection. Neither however have greatly affected academic dress, the nature of which still reflects its origins in early mediæval England. For with the first degrees came the first academical dress, modelled on that of Cambridge. (1) Although it was never anything than a medical school, so could not be said to be a universitas litterarum, though its wide standing made it a studia generalia even if only in the field of medicine. A modern university was established at Salerno in 1970. (2) It began as a law school but widened its scope to become a true universitas litterarum, something that Salerno never did. The University of Bologna remains, probably the oldest still extant. (3) There has always been some difficulty in producing a seniority list for the earliest universities.

It is impossible to do so with any degree of precision, largely because the first universities- those having their origins in the eleventh to thirteenth centuries- were the outcome of spontaneous social developments. As the earliest universities grew out of associations of students, many of them came into existence as result of the migration of students from one centre to another. Thus Padua was created by scholars from Bologna. Paris, the earliest of the northern type of university, was unusual in that it was created by its masters. (4) Though Oxford's right to confer advanced degrees was confirmed by Innocent IV in 1254. (5) There were 11 in Italy, 5 in France, 2 in England, and 5 on the Iberian Peninsula. See Hay, Denys, Europe in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries (first published 1966, 2nd ed Longman, New York, 1989) 361. Some were emheral, others (such as Oxford) have enjoyed continuous existence since their establishment.

(6) Lucas, Christopher, Our Western Educational Heritage (Macmillan Publishing Co Inc, New York, 1972) 235. (7) Franklyn, Charles, "Academical Dress- a brief sketch from the twelfth to the twentieth century, with especial reference to doctors" in (1946-7) 9(2) Oxford 78. Reprinted from The Medical World vol lvi no 24, pp 465-8. Doctor Franklyn, sometime Bedell of Convocation of the University of London, made a lifetime study of the subject of academical dress. (8) Regular clergy included the Augustinian canons. Secular clergy included those clergy who served the cathedrals. (9) This colliate structure at both Oxford and Cambridge was both a sign of the relative weakness of the central authorities of the universities, and, perhaps, of the strength of the collegial influence of the religious orders. Both remained under the supervision of their respective ordinaries- the bishop of Lincoln and of Ely, until after the Reformation.

(10) The university at Bologna, student dominated as it was by its student body, obtained complete immunity from civil jurisdiction in 1317. The "town-robe" conflict, so much a feature of mediæval university life, was found whether the masters or the students controlled the internal organisation of the university. (11) Herr, Friedrich, The Mediæval World (Mentor, New York, 1963) 242-3. (12) Hay, Denys, Europe in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries (first published 1966, 2nd ed Longman, New York, 1989) 362. (13) Though these had been attempted at various times. (14) Thorne, SE, "The Early History of the Inns of Court with Special Reference to Gray's Inn" (1959) 50 Graya 86. (15) University of New Zealand Act 1870. (16) Degrees were to include the BA, MA, MB, MD, LLB, LLD, BMus, and DMus; s 13.

(17) See the University of Auckland Act 1961, Victoria University of Wellington Act 1961, University of Canterbury Act 1961, and the University of Otago Amendment Act 1961. They were effectively separate after 1926, and styled as independent universities from 1958. The above excerpt was reprinted with permission of copyright owner Below is the second article / chapter, from a different author, offering a short background review of the history of Colleges and Universities, Academic Regalia, Dress, and Origins of the various schools and timelines of such, all excerpted from: The History of Academical Dress in Europe Until the End of the Eighteenth Century By Hargreaves-Mawdsley, W. N. Westport, Connecticut 1978 Origin of Universities By the twelfth century there had emerged two outstanding seats of learning in Europe, Bologna and Paris. At the first the jurist Irnerius between 1116 and 1140 introduced the Corpus juris civilis to Europe, [1] and at the second a group of masters with the blessing of the Church occupied themselves with the liberal arts and theology.

At Paris, by 1150, the theologians occupied the cathedral area and the masters and students of the liberal arts the left bank of the Seine. The teachers in these two cities attracted audiences from all over Europe, and both teachers and students, in different ways in the two centres, formed voluntary associations for the purpose of organization and protection. These recognized groups in these two cities were known as studia, that is, schools of general repute, but elsewhere, in fact wherever a cathedral chapter had a school whose fame extended beyond its own locality, studia existed.[2] Only the studia of Bologna and Paris, and a little later Oxford, reached the next stage in their development. As they grew in size and scope faculties were organized and officers appointed. The seal of their success was set upon them when they were recognized by the Holy See, for they were then accepted everywhere. They were, as studia generalia, free of the threat of royal or civic interference, or from the undue influence of the chancellor of the neighboring cathedral. Paris gained this distinction before Bologna, which the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had in 1158 taken under his wing in opposition to the pope’s Paris.

In this case the poiwer of the emperor was almost equal to the prestige of the pope, and under his patronage Bologna flourished as it never did again.[3] In the course of the thirteenth century the term universitas, a word used in Roman law for any kind of corporation,[4] supplanted that of stadium generale and acquired its modern sense of universitas litterarum. The universities of Paris, famed for theology and the liberal arts and patronized by the papacy, and Bologna, notable for law and with a development under imperial auspices, were the models for the systems which were adopted by the other universities of Europe when they came into being. Paris, whose government was carried out by the masters, the masters constituting the university, was the prototype of the majority of the universities of northern Europe. Bologna, on the other hand, was rather a guild of students, who as a body possessed the supreme active power, while the professors formed themselves into a college of masters isolated from the students, and so outside the great university corporation which the students formed. This system was followed in general by the universities of southern Europe. The third great university of the Middle Ages was Oxford, which followed Paris.

These three universities were the only ones founded ex consuetudine, that is they were already in existences as studia generalia in all but name when recognized by the pope. All the rest that followed were either founded by potentates and recognized in time by the papacy, or were founded by the papacy for the furtherance of its own influenced, and as their origin was ex privilegio they never enjoyed the same glory. [1] In this section and in Section 5 on the occasions when no other reference is given I have relied on H. Rashdall, The Universities of Europe in the Middle Ages, ed. F.M. Powicke and A.B. Emden, 3 vols, 1933-5. [2] There is a general account of the development of the schools of cathedral chapters in A.F. Leach, The schools of Medieval England, chap. Viii. [3] C.H. Haskins, The Rise of Universities, as for instance on p. 13, deals with the rise of the studia generalia. [4] F.K. von Savigny, Histoire du droit romain au moyen âge, iii.

295, § 154. Topics

Question: What is the oldest of the European universities
Answer: University of Paris